Listed below is your one stop for news concerning the New Orleans Aviation Board and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view these documents. If you don't have Adobe installed on your computer you can download and install it by clicking on the Adobe icon to the right.

It is a new year and with it comes expectations for great things
at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The Airport has set key goals in three areas
to accomplish this year. These areas of
focus are Infrastructure, Operations and Finance.

Holiday Travel Tips at Armstrong InternationalNext month will begin the holiday season and many of our residents will be traveling by air to visit loved ones and friends. The Airport Director would like to share some travel tips that will enhance your travel experience through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

9/1/2014

Airport Continues to Fly High in 2014The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport contributes to the prosperity of the city and region by linking our community to the rest of the world by air.

8/1/2014

New Air Service Arrives at MSYAugust will be a busy month for new air service at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. On August 1, 2014, Spirit Airlines, one of our low cost carriers that entered our market with daily service to Dallas, will begin a daily non-stop flight from the Greater New Orleans Market to Ft. Lauderdale with their all-Airbus fleet.

7/1/2014

Customer Service - A Priority at MSY The passenger experience from parking to boarding an aircraft at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) appears to be a seamless process. However, passengers are actually interacting with many different businesses that operate at the Airport. These businesses each have their own corporate branding, employees, policies and customer service initiatives. For example, the Airport parking garage is operated by New South Parking, curbside check-in is provided by businesses under contract with the particular airline, the airlines operate the ticket and gate counters, the news and gift concession is under Hudson Group, the food and beverage concession is under Delaware North Companies, and passenger and checked bag screening is conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). While the Airport does not have control over these businesses, the Airport has taken steps to have efficient and effective customer service for all of our passengers.

6/1/2014

National Air Service RecognitionLouis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport continues to set records and receive national recognition for air service in the world of aviation. Airline Weekly, a subscriber-supported publication reporting on commercial passenger aviation worldwide, recognized our Airport for the biggest increase in passenger volume in 2013 in the entire United States.

5/1/2014

Planning for the 2014 Hurricane SeasonThe Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is an important facility to the community, especially during an emergency event such as a hurricane.

4/1/2014

New Orleans Scores Big With More Air ServiceBuilding on the growth in 2013, the Airport recently announced the addition of the low cost carrier Alaska Airlines that will be providing non-stop service to Seattle, Washington. This announcement marks the 42nd non-stop destination served from New Orleans. With the addition of Alaska Airlines, Armstrong International now has twelve airlines that offer travel options for our customers. In addition, Southwest Airlines announced that it will be providing two daily non-stop flights to Regan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

3/1/2014

Reaching Milestones for a World Class AirportLouis Armstrong New Orleans International
Airport has achieved some significant milestones in the first quarter of 2014.
First and foremost, forward progress on the development of the new $826 million
North Terminal has taken flight. On January 16, 2014, New Orleans Mayor Mitch
Landrieu joined the New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB) and the Long Term
Infrastructure Development Project Team to showcase the conceptual renderings
of the new north terminal complex. The terminal concepts are the creation of
world renowned architect Cesar Pelli, New Orleans’ William Raymond Manning of
Manning Architects, Atkins Global and Leo A. Daly, the project design team for
the north terminal project.

2013 - A Very Good Year
at MSYAs we look back on 2013, it has been a year of exciting accomplishments at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. I would like to recap just a few.

11/1/2013

Holiday Travel Tips at Armstrong International AirportAs we enter the holiday season, many of our residents will be traveling by air to visit loved ones and friends. I would like to share some tips that will enhance your travel experience through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.

10/1/2013

Preparing for an Airport DisasterThis month, our staff will be joined by law enforcement and first responders from the surrounding parishes to participate in the mandated, tri-annual Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disaster drill. Airports are required to conduct the live full-scale planned exercise every three years to evaluate a response to a regulated disaster.

9/1/2013

A World Class Designer
for a World Class AirportIn a few short months, the New Orleans Aviation Board will be debuting the exciting look of the new $650 million Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport North Terminal. We have been actively working on the design of the terminal envelope since July, the same month that we were pleased to announce that famed architect César Pelli and William Raymond Manning of Manning Architects had joined the Crescent City Aviation Team (CCAT), the group charged with shaping a world class airport terminal in New Orleans set to open ahead of the 300th anniversary of New Orleans. They will bring a vision and world class experience to the project that is uniquely New Orleans.

Armstrong International Airport Soars in Strong Headwinds A recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology International Center for Air Transportation published in the Wall Street Journal has found that airline mergers, a deep recession and surging fuel prices have led to sharp cuts in airline service around the nation.

6/1/2013

Planning for the Hurricane SeasonJune 1st heralds the first day of the 2013 Hurricane Season. Many hurricane forecasters have begun to make their predictions for the season. Regardless of the predictions, the key is to be prepared and have a storm safety plan.

5/1/2013

A World Class Airport for a World Class CityOn Wednesday, April 17, the New Orleans Aviation Board took action to accept the recommendation from consultants contracted to do a study for the location of a new terminal. Four alternative sites were reviewed. The alternative options were (1) refurbishing the existing terminal site or build a new terminal on the (2) Southside, (3) Westside or (4) Northside of the existing campus. The recommended alternative that was approved by the Board was the option for the Northside of the airfield (see illustration on side 2). The completed comprehensive analysis came less than two years after New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu requested the Aviation Board undertake an in-depth and robust analysis of the four proposals for the future of the airport from the airport’s master plan. The study looked at financial feasibility, environmental impact, design, and operational impacts, including potential uses for the existing terminal and surrounding infrastructure.

4/1/2013

A New Airport Under StudyIn 2012 while working feverously to complete the over $300 million modernization of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB) was also working on a feasibility study for a new airport terminal at the existing airport location in Kenner. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu had sent a request for the study to the NOAB in their August meeting in 2011. Justification for the study revolved around a number of factors.

3/1/2013

Special Events Impact Traffic at MSYIn January, we kicked off the year with
thousands of Sugar Bowl fans faithfully following their two respective
college teams to the Crescent City. This was followed by our yearly
Mardi Gras celebration that was extended a week to allow for the Super
Bowl to take place in the Superdome. Then if that wasn’t enough
following the departure of the Mardi Gras revelers after Ash Wednesday,
the airport was called upon to be the travel conveyance for stranded
passengers from the Carnival Cruise ship - Triumph. They were bussed to
us from the Mobile Cruise Ship Port after their emergency docking with a
final sojourn scheduled to the Triumph homeport of Galveston, TX via a
flight to Houston on 11 chartered aircraft from MSY.

Airport Construction Wrapping UpAs we enter the December holiday season and approach the new year, I am happy to report we are completing the final touches on all of the construction and wrapping up our $356 million modernization program. We, at the airport, are excited about the changes and I know our passengers that have not been in the airport recently will be impressed by the new décor, the new shops and the new restaurants.

11/1/2012

Tips for Holiday Travel at Armstrong International AirportAs we enter the holiday season, many of our residents will be traveling
by air to visit loved ones and friends. I would like to share some tips
with you that might make your travel through Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport a little easier.

Preparing for the Super BowlNew
Orleans has been the host to some very big sporting events over the years, but
none bigger than a Super Bowl. As everyone must know by now, New Orleans will
be in the spotlight on Feb. 3, 2013 when the Super Bowl returns to the Crescent
City for a 10th time. This high profile game will bring attention to
our region, our city and our airport.

7/1/2012

Arts in the AirportArt and music are two important ways to showcase
a city’s unique ambiance, particularly in public structures. The use of the
arts in a public setting has been shown to create an improved public
environment through the enhancement of spaces, with the sights and sounds of
quality artists and musicians that are unique in their field and their
presentation.

6/1/2012

Planning for the Hurricane SeasonJune 1st is the declared first day of the 2012 Hurricane Season and hurricane forecasters are calling for a below-average hurricane season this year. Regardless of the forecast, the key is to always be prepared with a storm safety plan during this time of year.

5/1/2012

Improving Concessions at MSY On our path to transforming the airport into a business that closely reflects the aspirations of our community, we have discussed many initiatives with you in these reports. One such initiative is upgrading the concessions at the airport.

4/1/2012

Accountability & Transparency at MSYOver one year ago, I reported to readers of the Airport Report that the New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB) and staff had taken significant steps to enhance a sense of accountability and transparency at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Very soon after I joined the MSY team in 2010, the Aviation Board requested audits through Harold A. Asher, CPA as a means of increasing transparency. In the early fall of that year after having studied the workings of the Airport, I submitted my 100 Day Report to the Board with a recommendation for audits after identifying significant system risks. These included a lack of policies and procedures and internal controls, lack of staff to conduct core business and findings of disproportionate revenues and expenses. I also recommended that the fleet of airport vehicles be significantly reduced and a new over-time policy for NOAB employees be set after Asher’s audit review of NOAB Overtime (posted on the Airport website).

3/1/2012

New Airport Developments As Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport continues its modernization of the existing airport campus by Super Bowl 2013, the challenge by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to develop a "world class airport” has been heard and preliminary steps to address the directive are underway.

1/1/2012

Building for the FutureWe believe that our journey to becoming a world class airportis not an event but a process. To get to the world class airportstatus, we are working on a feasibility study for a new airportterminal to be constructed on the Airport property associatedwith steady progress on the completion of our $300 milliondollar modernization of the existing terminal.

Holiday Travel Tips at Armstrong International Airport As we enter the holiday season, many of our residents will be traveling by air to visit loved ones and friends. I would like to share some tips with you that might make your travel through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport a little easier.

Airport Expansion - A New Plan for the FutureAt the August New Orleans Aviation Board meeting, the following letter from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu was presented to the Board Chairman Nolan V. Rollins by New Orleans city officials:

8/1/2011

Finding Jobs at the AirportLouis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport plays many roles in the community. While some may think of the airport as nothing more than a transportation center where airplanes land and passengers and cargo move from one place to another, in reality the airport is much more than that. The airport is a source of revenue for government municipalities, a partner in industry with local businesses and most importantly in this troubled economy a provider of jobs.

7/1/2011

Airport Numbers Continue to SoarThe return of tourists to the city is a welcomed sign that recovery from all of the natural and man-made disasters the city has survived is not only underway but is accelerating. Many of these tourists fly into the city using Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, a fact I believe is reflected in our increased passenger loads. Officials in the city that track tourism numbers state there has been a nearly 20 percent increase in tourism this year in New Orleans, as compared to last year.

6/1/2011

Planning for the Hurricane SeasonThe 2011 Hurricane Season began on June 1st. Iftikhar Ahmad, Director of Aviation, discusses the Airport's Hurricane Preparedness Plan and what passengers should do to prepare for a hurricane or tropical storm.

5/2/2011

Improving Services at MSYIftikhar Ahmad, Director of Aviation, discusses the results of a recent Concessions Survey and ways we will use this information to improve Services at MSY

Mayor Landrieu, Aviation Board unveil conceptual design for new world-class airport terminal complexToday,
Mayor Mitch Landrieu joined the New Orleans Aviation Board (NOAB), regional
elected officials, business and tourism leaders to announce a major milestone in
the plans to build a brand new, world-class airport terminal that will serve as
a crucial economic driver for the New Orleans metropolitan region and provide a
lasting impression to visitors due to its modern design and open architectural
concept.

After
announcing about 1.4 million more seats last winter in New Orleans, Southwest
Airlines is increasing air service from the New Orleans market with new
non-stop service to San Diego, CA beginning on April 8, 2014 on their 737
aircraft.

Saints Store to Open in Armstrong International AirportAs part of the
ongoing transformation at the Airport, a widespread revamp of concessions
program is taking place, the New Orleans Saints opened their Saints store at
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport today.